Handle attaching apparatus



Sept. 21, 1954 J. A. BAGNALL HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20. 1950 j'nuefifom mall Sept. 21, 1954 J. A. BAGNALL HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1950 Sept. 21, 1954 J. A. BAGNALL 2,689,505

HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 21, 1954 J. A. BAGNALL 2,689,506

HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 41 Sept. 21, 1954 Filed April 20, 1950 J. A. BAGNALL HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 21, 1954 J. A. BAGNALL HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 20, 1950 Silt. 4 wv 0 53 l 1: 5: 3 MLEEE? 5: O 1 I a mhmvm M w m 4M0".

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 HANDLE ATTACHING APPARATUS John Allan Bagnall, Danville, Quebec, Canada Application April 20, 1950, Serial No. 157,028

3 Claims.

Introduction The present invention relates to the manufacture and attaching of handles to paper bags.

Many forms of paper bags used to convey groceries or the like and particularly larger bags of this nature used as shopping bags are provided with a pair of substantially U-shaped string handles that are attached, one at each side to the upper margins of the bag. Various expedients are used to secure the string handles to the bags, for example, the handles are sometimes glued or stapled directly to the bag or the handles are first attached to a strain distributing member of cardboard or the like and the member and handles are then secured to the bag.

. As mass production methods are necessary in the manufacturing of articles of this nature various machines have been devised for the continuous production of handles and handle attachments for example, the apparatus disclosed in United States patent 2,332,530.

Other apparatus has been devised to automatically attach handles to paper bags but in general all equipment of this nature at present available presents certain disadvantages from the manufacturing viewpoint. For example, machines of this nature are usually designed to accommodate one size of bag and ifa manufacturer intends placing the handles on several sizes of bags he requires several machines.

Further, prior art apparatus of this nature attaches the handles on one side only in one operation, the bag having to be reversed and sent through the machine again to complete the as-- sembly.

The present invention recognizes these and other disadvantages and aims to furnish a so- .lution for them by providing a handle manufacturing and attaching apparatus that is designed to automatically form the handles and strain distributing strips and attach the bandles and strips to both sides of a paper bag simultaneously. Further, the present apparatus is sufliciently flexible to accommodate almost any size and style of paper bag that requires handles so that a manufacturer can utilize one machine to meet all his requirements rather than having to use a separate machine for each size of bag. i

Applicants development string handles and reinforcing strips and then adhesively attach the handles and strips simultaneously to both sides of a paper bag as it is fed through the machine.

More specifically, a preferred construction of this apparatus includes a frame on which is rotatably mounted a pair of cylindrical drums which arearranged one above the other and driven in opposite directions so that paper bags can be fed between their opposed peripheral surfaces by means of a suitable conveyor. Mechanism is provided that intermittently feeds a continuous strip of paper to each of the drums and pasting and cutting attachments apply adhesive to the strip and. cut the strip into the portions necessary to form the reinforcing strips. Strip retaining means are provided on each drum so that as the drum rotates the strip is carried on the outer periphery of the drum towards one of a pair of string forming dies that are mounted so as to have their lower ends projecting into the path of the outer periphery of the drum.

Means are provided to intermittently feed. lengths of string into each of the string forming dies which are actuated in time related sequence so as to form the string lengths into substantially U-shaped handles which are advanced into the paths of the drums. String engaging fingers are provided on each drum that are adapted to engage with the U-shaped string handles so as .to withdraw them from the forming dies and retain them in contact with the adhesive, coated surface of the paper strips. Pasting means are also provided that are adapted to apply adhesive to each side of the paper bags prior to their feeding between the counter rotating drums and on the continued rotation of thedrums the U-shaped string handles and adhesively coated surface of the strips are brought into contact with the adhesively covered portions of the bag simultaneously at each side. This places the U-shaped string handles directly on the adhesive on the bag with the previously adhesively prepared reinforcing strip over the string and in contact with the bag between and at both sides of the string. As this contact is made between the nip of the drums the handles and strip are pressed firmly into contact with the bag at each side.

'I'hestring engaging fingers and reinforcing strip retaining means of the drum are automatically withdrawn as this contact is made and as the drum continues to rotate these members are moved into proper position for the next cycle.

Detailed description Having thus generally described the nature of the invention particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail View of the rack and gear arrangement of :the string feeding mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view in side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 along the line 3- 3.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Figure 3 along the line 4-4 toillustrate the string forming block in more detail.

Figure 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the paper strip retaining rollersillustrating the cam and pawl arrangement.

Figure 6 is a front end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the pasting rollers and 'feedingmechanism removedto show the relative positions of the stringfeed, handle forming and v handle attachingmechanism more clearly.

Figure 7 is a front view in perspective of a paperibag With'handles attached in accordance with the invention.

Ithepasting rolls and handle attaching cylinders to show the internal mechanismin more detail. 'Figure'12 is a section of'Figure 10 along the line Figures l3, l4, andl5 are enlarged detail views partially in section of the upper drum of the apparatus illustrating in sequence the motion of the handle forming and attaching mechanism at the start of the handle forming cycle.

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail view partially in section of a portion of the upper and lower drums illustrating the handle attaching mechanism. at the end of a cycle.

Figure 17 is an enlarged detail view of the internal mechanismof one of the drums toshow the cam "actuating the string retainingiingers and the cam actuating the paper strip retaining pins in more detail.

Figure 18 is an enlarged side view of one of the handle attaching drums in operative position to show the relative position of the string retaining finger in the sequence step shownin Figure 15.

.Figure 19 is an enlargeddetail plan View partially in section of a portion of the front ofithe apparatus to illustrate in moredetail the string feeding mechanism.

Figure 20 is a detail view partially in section along the line 2i32ll of Figure 19 illustrating the gear train driving the cut-off knife cam and the gear train driving the string feeding rollers.

section of the string feeding arrangement showing the string as it isfed into one ,of the string forming dies.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view of the string cutting knife and support together with the knife I actuating cam.

70 Figure 21 is .a diagrammatic viewpartially m Figure 23 is a diagrammatic view partially in section showing the relative position of the rack, gears and pawl arrangement for driving the string feeding rollers.

With particular reference to Figures 3, and 6 of the drawings which are respectively a plan View, a sectional View in side elevation and an end view "of the general arrangement of the apparatus-a'pairof cylindrical drums Ill, l2 are rotatably mounted on a frame l4 one above the other and are driven in opposite directions through artrain of gears by a power source not illustrated.

supplyrolls l6, 18 containing elongated strips .of paper or cardboard are rotatably mounted at on each of thestrips: as they are being fed forward. Cuttingrolls :32, 34 are provided adjacent each of the drums l0,1l12 sothat a portion of each paperstrip is severed on each revolution.

In sequence with the cutting operation, cam

operated pins 36,=mounted within the drums it,

;.l2 are forced outwardly from each of the drums so as to pierce and retain the severed strips on the peripheral surface of the drums. drums-[0,12 continue to rotate the severed paper As the strips are carried towards a pair of string formingdies All, 12 mounted on the frame M, one adjacent to and tangent with each of the drums f0 and '12, so that-the lower ends of the dies in- "ter'sect the path-of the rotating drums peripheral surface.

String advancing and cutting mechanisms '50, 52 which will be described later in more detail are adapted'to intermittently feed lengthsof string from supply rolls'53, 5 rotatablyamounted on a standard into the string forming 61165 41 52. Thestring forming dies 49, 2.each include plungers ml, which are driven by crankarms 6-4,so as to slide downwardly and'up- -wardly respectively so as to form the lengths of string into substantially U -shaped string handles.

"These formed string handles are moved towards-the drums l3, l2 bythe action of the plungers 63,-so-that-the legs ofeach U are point- -ed away-from the-drums it, 12 with the loop of the U being advanced into the p th of the drums.

Cam actuated string -eng-aging fingers are -mounted=in-eachof the-drums it, 12 so thatas these fingers pass the string forming "dies they are forced outwardlyandthen released so as to "engage'the'loop of the U-shaped string handles andwithdrawthem from the dies. This places the legs of the*U-S.hap,e,d string'handles on .top of and in engagement with the adhesively coated stripsheld by the pins 35. As the outer peripheral surface'of each-of the drums iii, [.2 include grooves-B8, thecontinued rotation of the drums .brings the .ueshaped string ,members into contact with a pair of resilient strips i0 so thatthe entire length of the U-shaped string handles are held against the=outer periphery of the drum with the legs being. impressed, together with :the

.paper strip, .into .the ,grooves 6.8, 1 producing an effect as shown in the section of a paper bag illustrated in Figure 9.

The paper bags on which the handles are to be attached are' intermittently fed into the machine by means of a conveyor belt 80 having spaced apart stops 82. Pasting rollers 84, 8-6 positioned on the frame adjacent the end of the conveyor belt 80 and supplied from paste containing pans 88, 90 are adapted to place dabs of adhesive on each side of the bag as it is fed into the machine as is shown in Figure 10. The bags are then fed forward into the nip between the drums I0, I2 and on the continued rotation of the drums the legs of the U-shaped string handles and paper strip are placed into contact with the adhesively coated portions of the bag at each side. The clearance or nip between the drums I0, I2 is calculated so as to exert sufficient pressure on the paper strips and bag to firmly bring them into close contact with the legs of the U- shaped handle fitting into the grooves 68 of the drums in the manner shown in detail in Figure 9. A conveyor belt 92 is provided to carry the assembled bags from the machine as is shown in Figures 1 and 5.

With particular reference to Figures '7, 8, and 9 illustrating a paper shopping bag A having string handles B attached in accordance with the invention, this provides a strong joint between handles and bag, the legs of the U-handle B being adhesively attached to the reinforcing strips and bag A and being covered by the reinforcing strips 0' which are adhesively secured to the bag .along the entire length. In order that the construction of the apparatus may be more clearly understood, I shall now describe the various portions in more detail.

Strip feeding and cutting mechanism The paper supply rolls I6, I8 are mounted on shafts I00 supported by brackets I02 extending in spaced apart relationship from the frame I4 so that the rolls can rotate on withdrawal of the paper strip which I shall designate as D. The strip Dis threaded over the idler rolls I04, I06 and then passed between the retaining rolls I08, H8 which have their outer surfaces knurled or roughened. Each of the rolls I08, IIII include a gear and pawl arrangement (see Figure so that the paper strip D can move freely in one direction but cannot slip back. The paper strip D is moved forward intermittently by means of the paper advancing rolls 20, 22. These are formed sothat one of each pair of rolls has a segmental paper engaging surface 2 I, and the other a smaller segmental paper engaging surface 23. As the rolls 20, 22 are adjustable on the shafts 25 on which they are mounted, the opposed surfaces 2|, 23 of each pair of rolls can be adjusted so that any portion or all of the surfaces 2| can meet in opposed relationship with the surfaces 23 so as to advance the paper strip D for a distance equivalent to the entire circumferential length of the surface 2| or any portion thereof. Accordingly, on each revolution of the rolls 20, 22 the paper strip D is advanced a distance equivalent to the amount of the surfaces 2| overlapped by the surface 23 of the opposed rolls.

As the paper strip D is advanced by the rolls 20, 22 it is passed between the idler rolls I I 0, I I2. and the pasting rolls 28, 30. Each of the pasting rolls 28, 30 includes a segmental pasting pad II3 that is adapted on each revolution to contact the roller 29, 3| of the paste containing pans 24, 26

and then to apply the adhesive so collected to secured to the end of each shaft the upper surface of the paper strip D. The continued advancement of the strip D brings it it into contact with th outer surfaces of the drums III or I2 and between the drums and the paper cutting rollers 32, 34 mounted on shafts 29, 21 journalled in the frame I4. Each of the paper cutting rollers 32, 34 include a paper cutting knife II 4 mounted on and extending from its outer peripheral surface and each of the drums I0, I2 includes a pair of corresponding slotted knife receiving bars H6 in its outer peripheral surface. With this arrangement, on each revolution of the cutting rollers 32, 34, the cutting knives I|4 mesh with one of the bars I I6 in the drums I0, I2 so that a portion is cut from the end of the, paper strip D, the Width of the portion corresponding to the amount the strip D is advanced by the paper feed rolls 20, 22.

Handle and strip attaching drums The cylindrical drums I0, I2 are rotatably mounted on the frame I4 on shafts I20, I22 respectively that extend across and are journalled at each side of the frame I4. The shafts I20, I22 are driven by gears positioned at one side of the machine and in mesh with the main driving gear train,

Each of the cylindrical drums I8, I2 includes an outer shell I 24 with webs I28 at each end. Preferably, the drums are made of cast iron with the shell and webs cast integrally and then bored and suitably bushed for mounting on the shafts I20, I22. The outer shell I24 of each drum is grooved about its outer periphery to provide the string retaining grooves 68 as well as being slotted axially in diametrically opposed relationship to accommodate the cutting knife engaging bars H6, and suitable openings are provided to accommodate the paper strip retaining pins 36 and the string engaging fingers 65.

The paper engaging pins 36 are mounted within each of the drums I0, I2 so that as the drums rotate the ends of the pins protrude from the outer surface of the drum to engage the cut portion C of the paper strip D and then retract to release the paper strip C on the completion of the cycle.

This is accomplished by having each pair of pins 36 mounted on arms I28 rigidly secured in spaced apart relationship to a shaft I30 extending across the driven end and being mounted in and extending through suitable bearings provided in the drum Webs I26. A crank arm I32 is rigidly I30 extending beyond the Web I26 and a roller I34 mounted on the arm I32 is adapted to engage the surface of a cam plate I40 secured to the frame I4 exteriorly of the drum. The cam plate I 40 is formed to have a cam surface I42. that is adapted to raise the crank arms I32 and consequently the pin supporting arms I 28 when the drum is in the correct position for cutting the paper strip, and to lower the crank arms I32 when the paper strip C has been engaged with the bag surface A. Springs I25 are provided that are connected b tween the pin supporting arms I28 and the web I26 so as to normally hold the pins 36 beneath the surface of the drums. As there are two sets of pins 36 on each drum, diametrically opposed, the cam surface I42 is set to engage one set and simultaneously release the other, the cam plate I40 preferably having elongated slots at its attachment point to the frame I4 so that angular V The-string engaging fingers fi-.5ar e:also:mounted in pairs in each .drum It, [2 in;diametrically:op posed relationship witheach finger I55 mounted in a split finger retaining block Idll rigidly secured to a shaft M6 extending between and'journalled in the drum webs-I26. Each of the shafts M6 include an end portion M1 that extends beyond the web I26 at the opposite side of the drum from the pin actuating cam plate MB and a crank arm I50 including a roller [52 is rigidly mounted on the shaft end Ml. These crank arms-liiare intermittently actuated during the rotation of the drum by the contact of the rollers 1 52 with the projecting cam surfaces I54 and [.55 of a cam plate i56. Each of the fingersupporting blocks I44 includes aprojecting angle Hi3 and aspring 145 is securedbetweenthe angle M3 and the web I26 so as to return the fingers 65 to their normal position beneath theouter peripheral surface of the drum.

Each of the cam plates l58 is mounted on the opposite side of theframe l'lifrom the cam plates M0 by means of a collar 5150 having a flange H52 that is secured directlyto the frame is the shafts I26, I22 being a slide fitthroughtheccollar I66. I

The projecting cam surface [54 ,is adjust-ably secured to the cam plate [56 by ,means of slots I66 and bolts I68 so that the position of the cam surface I54 can be adjusted angularly to the re quired position. The cam surface ['54 is adapted to raise and lowerthe string engaging fingers 65 quite rapidly as is required when the string :engaging fingers are rotated adjacent the string forming dies so, 42. The cam surface I55 is adapted to raise thefingers 55 so as to release the U-shaped string handle when the drum has reached the bag engaging position and maintain the fingers in this position for a short portion of the return cycle after which they are released to drop beneath the surface of the drum as it again rotates to the beginning'of a new cycle.

The string forming dies rear-face and a crank arm as is pivotally connected to each extension 6%. The cram: arms Bi are pivotally connectedto and are reciprocated by the crank wheels til mounted on shaft il lextending across and being journalledinthe sides of the frame it. A suitable gear ill is secured I to one end of each of the shafts 574 so vthat the ,crankwheels are rotated, in time related sequence 7 by the gear train driving the apparatus. A string receiving slide iiiii is attached to each of'the slide frames lit by slidable engagement with a of guide plates E82 projecting rearwardly from the slide frame.

The upper guideplate B32 includes spaced-apart slots adapted to allow restricted movement of pins i8 1 projecting from the slide 86 and springs 585 are connected'between the pins .185 and pins its mounted on the plate 582 to'normally urge the slide 83 away from the slide frame if!) so as to allow the string portion that is to be formed into a U-shaped handle to pass between the slide plate I89 and the frame lit as indicated atIJSS (see Figure 13). The outward movement of :the slide I81] is restrictedby the engagementof a roller 1'96 mounted :onthe outer end of thiso'plate with a pusher-,cam1l92 mounted-on .ashaft 2129.3

8 that is also driven exteriorly ,of .theframe 1:4 by a gear [8Q meshed with-themain gear train. The cam 192 includes a projecting cam surface 1-9: that is adaptedito engage'withandkpush the slide plate roller lflfl'inwardly so asto force-the string portion into-the slide of'the slideframe ill). As 1the'plunger B0 descends "the string is formed between the walls of the slide frame .16 and the plunger ,tiiinto :a substantially U-shaped form with the loop of 'the -.U extending across .theend of the plungerafiii 'andis moved down the exterior of theslide frame 3H0 into the path of the string engaging .fingersate as they are carried past by the rotating drum. .As the endo'f ieachpf the plungersififl include a hemispherical cut-out59, and the lower end :of theslide frame till] between 'theslidermembers also includesva corresponding cut-outBl, the fingers I on actuationloy the finger cams are closed down on the loopof the U-shaped'string portions andthey are withdrawn'from theslide frame. no and retained on the outer. surface of the drum. A pair of resilient members it! are secured in spaced apart relationship corresponding .to the grooves 68 in the drums to each of theslide'frames [1.0 so that on continued rotation of the drum the legs of'the U-shaped string members-are pressed into the drum grooves 68in engagement with the adhesively coated paper strip.

"String feeding and cutting mechanism reciprocal motion of the driving arm2e l. A shaft 2% ,is journalled in the "frame M adjacent the end of the driving armuZM, andaratchet wheel Silt and a pinion .gear :208 are respectively rotatablyand fixedly mounted .onthis shaft. The rack portionfiiifivof the'drivingarm 29 4 ismeshed withithe ratchet wheel -2I0;and.is;maintained in alignment by;means-of a guide plate 252 slid- .ab-lymounted over a hub portion of the ratchet wheel-2H) so that reciprocation of the arm 26d causes intermittent free rotation of the ratchet wheel 2U? on .thejshaft $2.66. This movement is transf erred .to the pinion gear 2 0.8 v by Vmeans of :a pawl .Zi-B pivotally mountedon a pawl carrier :Zil' rigidly securedcto theugear 1285 so that the pinion 2'88 and the shaft 206 arerotated intermittently in one direction. A sprocket gear 213 fixedlymountedon the shaftltfi adjacent the frame 14 and a second-shaftizfil journalled in theframe M above the first shaft 286 and havinga sprocket gear 220 fixedly mounted thereon bevel gear 226 'fixedly mounted on ashaft 2Z8 journalled between a pair'of plates230, 23l secured to the frame [4 adjacent the slide frame 11.13. A toothed gear 234 is fixedly mounted on the other end ofthe shaft 228 and is adapted to driveuthrough-a train of gearsi'235, 2=36,= 231,=-a

9 pair of string advancing rollers 240, 242 mounted in opposed relationship on shafts 243, 244-journalled between the plates 230, 23L With this arrangement rotation of the shaft 206 is adapted to intermittently rotate in opposite directions the rolls 240, 242, and so advance a ength of string between the opposed faces of the rolls.

With particular reference to Figure 21 of the drawings a pair of string aligning and locating tubes 246 are mounted in and extend from the frame l4 so as to keep the string in alignment with the rolls 240, 242 and feed the string into a bell mouthed string guide 249 mounted in the string receiving passage of the string forming slide frame [10. i

As the required amount of string is advanced into the slide frame. I by the intermittent motion of the rolls 240, 242 it is severed by means of a string cutting knife 245 slidably mounted in knife support member 241 secured to a support bracket 248 extending from the plates 230,

23L The string cutting knife 245 is intermit-.

tently reciprocated across the string by means of a cam 250 mounted on a shaft 24! journalled in the support 248 and driven by a gear 254 through idler gears 2 56, 251 in meshed engagement with a gear 258 fixedly mounted on the shaft 21 of the cutting roller 34. With this arrangement a predetermined length of string is fed into the string forming dies 40, 42 with each revolution of the paper cutting rollers and paper advancing rollers, these being geared to rotate twice for each rotation of the drums.

While the foregoing description deals mainly with the string feeding and cutting apparatus positioned adjacent the lower 42 of the string forming dies the shaft 201 carries a bevel gear 224 which is adapted to drive anidentical string feeding arrangement positioned adjacent the upper string forming die 40; The second string cutting arrangement similar to that previously described is positioned adjacent the upper string forming die 40 and is driven through a train of gears from the shaft 29 to the cutting roller 32.

It will be understood that the train of gears driving the machine are arranged so that each of the working elements are rotated in time related sequence. A handwheel 260 is provided that is mounted on the opposite side of the machine to the gear train and connected to a.

main driving gear so that the machine can be actuated manually for setting purposes. While a power source is not illustrated, it is contemplated that the machine will be powered by an electric motor connected by a suitable pulley arrangement to the gear train adjacent the lower portion of the frame.

When the machine is in operation the paper bags on which the handles are to be attached are individually fed forward by the feeding conveyor which is driven in synchronization by a gearing arrangement from the driving gear train of the apparatus (illustrated diagrammatically). Strips of paper are fed forward from the sup ply rolls by the paper advancing rolls and paste is applied by the pasting rolls. The continued advancement of the strips brings them into line with the opposed drums and between the outer surfaces of the drums and the paper cutting rollers. The continued rotation of the drums in co-operation with the paper cutting rollers cuts the adhesively coated portion of the paper strips off at the desired length to form the hanof two bags.

10 dle reinforcing patches. At the same time the paper retaining fingers co-operating with the drums come into operation to hold the ad hesively coated patches onto the outer surfaces of the drums as they continue to rotate.

The further rotation of the drums brings the cut-off length of paper into alignment with the string cutting and forming dies and the string holding fingers extend from the drum to pull the U-shaped string length into contact with the outer adhesively coated surfaces of the cut paper portions so that the legs of the string U are adhesively secured thereto.

The still further rotation of the drums brings the formed string handles and paper portions which are now adhesively combined and held on the outer surface of the drum towards the nip of the drum as the bag is fed therebetween by the feeding conveyor. Prior to the feeding of the bag between the nip of the drums, quantities of adhesive material have been selectively applied to each side of the bag so that as the bag is fed between the drums the U-shaped string handles are applied at each side with the paper strip portions outermost and directly over the dabs of adhesive on the bag. The nip or clearance between the drums is calculated to exert sufficient pressure on the paper strip portions and bag so as to bring them into close contact with the legs of the U-shaped handles which fit into the grooves provided in the drum. The further rotation. of the drums clears the finished bag from between the drums onto the discharge conveyor belt so that it is carried out of the machine.

As will be appreciated, as there are two sets of strip retaining pins and string holding fingers disposed in diametrically opposed relationship on each drum, each full rotation of the drum is adapted to place the handles on each side As one pair of handles are being applied between the nip of the drum, a corresponding arrangement at the diametrically op posed sides of the drums are receiving and cutting further strip portions prior to their engagement with the string forming dies so as to pick up the U-shaped string handle. The feeding and adhesive application to the bags is in time related sequence to the rotation of the drum so that the handle applying operation is carried out in a continuous cycle.

The paper shopping bag of the gusset type shown in the drawings is illustrative only and it will be understood that the present apparatus can be adjusted so that it may be employed to attach string handles to any size or type of paper bag desired.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for continuously forming and simultaneously attaching a pair of handles to pre-formed paper bags of the type having an open mouth bordered by opposed marginal portions, one on the outside of each of said marginal portions, said apparatus comprising, a frame, a pair of cylindrical drums mounted for counter rotation on said frame, one above the other in opposed relationship, a pair of handle forming dies, each including a pair of spaced apart opposed guide members mounted on said frame adjacent to and tangent to the outer periphery of each of said drums in opposed relationship, a handle forming plunger slidably mounted beto bend a length of string fed across said guide members in a-U-shaped form and advance saidformed. string into-thepath: of; one ofsaid drums,- a slide frame connectedto each-of said. handleforming dies and a slide plate mounted in eac-h of said slide framesadapted. tointermittently feed-out lengths of string. across saidiguide members, means to intermittently fed: a length of stringintosaid slide frame! and to-cut saidstring into predetermined lengths-meansfor intermittently feeding; acontinuousrstrip"ofpaper to eachof said drums, adhesive. applying means mounted on saidframeadapted toapply adhesive to each ofsaid. paper strips prior to its engagement-With one of said drums, papen cutting means mounted on said frame and. drumsadapted to intermittently sever a portion from each of saidcontinuous-paper strips, paper engaging. means mounted on. each of saidjdrums, string. engaging and. retaining means mounted. on each of? said drums adapted toengage and retain said U-shaped string portionsin contact With-said paper: portions, means for feeding a bag. between said drums including a pairof opposed feed. rolls. mounted on said frame inalignment with the nip of and'inadvance of said drums ran endless conveyor member including spaced apart. registering'means positioned in advance of'said feed rolls, each ofsaidspaced' apart conveyor. registering means being'adapted to engage a bag for guiding it into register Withsa'idfeedrolls, said drums, feedxrolls anddriving means for said conveyor member. being synchronized whereby'each bag as engaged by said? conveyor registering means is fedbetween said feed'ro'lls so as to place itin proper register'fortheplacing 'ofthe' handles by the drums, the continued rotation of said drums being: adapted to advance said formed string portions and paper strip portions into'en gagement with each sideof'saidpaper bag so fed.

2. An apparatus-as claimed. in--claim-1, where- 12 in said-paper engagingmeans include diametri+ cally; opposed. pairs of cam actuated retaining.

pins mounted'withineach ofsaid' drums adapted. to retain said severed paper strip portions in;

engagement therewith, cam means co-operating with each of said drums adapted to extend and withdraw each pair'of'said'pins relative to the outer urface of said drum in time related sequenceto said drum rotating means, said string; engaging-and retaining means comprising a pair of cam actuated spring engaging retaining.

fingers pivotally mounted in diametrically opposed relationship within each of. said drums,

each of said: string engaging fingers being adapted to extend above the surface of saiddrum-and descend beneath the" surface of said drum inintermittent time related sequence toengage, withdraw, and retainone-of said' U-- shaped. stringv portions fed. from one of said handle forming dies-and release said U-shapedstringportion after. it is passed betweenthe nip- QfsaiddrumS, andcam means co-operating with each. of said drums adapted to actuate each of said string retaining. fingers. in said time. related sequence.

3. An apparatus according to claim-l,- includ.-' ing conveyor meansmounted on. said frame. in

alignment-Withand adjacent to the nip of saiddrums. adapted. to-remove said assembled bagsand handles from said apparatus.

ReferencesCited-in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Steen Nov. 10, 1936 

